Zuranolone shows promise in treating postpartum depression

Sage Therapeutics’ (NSDQ:SAGE) and Biogen’s (NSDQ:BIIB) experimental depression drug zuranolone fared well in a Phase 3 clinical trial comparing it to placebo in the treatment of postpartum depression.

The investigational drug demonstrated meaningful improvements in terms of the baseline 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) score, the most common clinician-administered depression assessment scoring system.

After a 15-day treatment period, the zuranolone group had a mean change in HAM-D score of −17.8, resulting in a final mean score of 11.0, which is the normal range. Meanwhile, the −13.6 change in the placebo group results in a final mean score of 14.8, indicating mild-to-moderate depression.

For context, in the HAM-D system, a score of 10–13 indicates mild depression. The range of 14–17 represents mild to moderate depression. A score higher than 17 indicates severe depression.

[Related: Biogen bets $1.5B on Sage Therapeutics’ n…

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Psilocybin narrowly beat Lexapro in small depression study

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The magic mushroom compound psilocybin appeared to be slightly more effective than the selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor escitalopram (Lexapro) in a small study recently published in NEJM.  

In the Phase 2 study, which tracked 59 patients over six weeks, the psilocybin group had an approximately 8-point average drop in the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (Self-Report) questionnaire with 16 questions (QIDS-SR16). The 29 patients had a 6-point reduction on the 27-point scale. Higher scores on the scale correlate to more severe depression. 

The researchers concluded that there was not “a significant difference in antidepressant effects between psilocybin and escitalopram” in the study. Secondary outcomes, however, tended to favor psilocybin over escitalopram. The researchers added that more studies are needed to evaluate psilocybin against conventional antide…

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